When it gets as quiet as it has around USD, it must signify that the annual convention is near. Usually when any election is forthcoming, there are candidates positioning themselves to capture your vote. At this time, there is nothing happening. That seems rather odd with all the turmoil surrounding US Diving.

It would appear that both sides would want to be getting their message out but nothing is happening yet. To this observer that means the "status quo" may be the future of Diving. There are many people that appear to be disenfranchised with the organization but do not voice their opinion to that affect. If I were a member of that esteemed body, I would like to know:

• Is the sport safer now that there are mandated certifications or was it safer prior to these certifications?
• Why do the membership numbers continue to drop? Even though last year's fees were extended for those who enrolled before a certain date the numbers are still dropping.
• How many new members join to offset those who leave?
• Will the future membership increase remain at $75 or will it rise even higher?
• On the USD web site the president is looking at insurance rates to see if there are viable options to curb the rising costs. Why didn't he do that a couple of years ago?
• Why can't parents or divers opt out of the supplemental accident insurance coverage? That would be an option for them to individually reduce their costs.
• Why are the coaching fees so high? ($300 before taking any certifications.)
• Why would the leadership be averse to more International competition for the junior divers?
• Where is the improvement in diving that was supposed to happen with the skill requirements at the junior and below levels?
• Are the training sites operating on their own as once predicted or are they still subsidized by USD?
• When will USD subsidize all clubs?
• Will USD pay the salaries for all certified coaches since USD has made that a requirement?
• Will USD ever become an enabling organization for the coaches?
• Why hasn't USD enticed all diving coaches to become members?
• Why is more money being spent on administration rather than on the divers?
• Now that we have been classified as a low interest sport with no medal contender, why is the emphasis still the same? What hasn't worked, will probably never work?change must occur.

The above are but a few sample questions I would like to have answered before casting a vote. I would need time to digest those answers and ask questions rather than be put in the position of rushed decisions such as those that have occurred in the past. For the last 12 or more years, I have watched our sport lose it's world dominance and sink well past the medal rounds. How much further down is USD willing to drop? In my opinion the answers to all of the above questions would assist my decision and influence my vote.

In an attempt to get voters to vote, I would like to end this article with an opinion I have written before. As the membership numbers decrease, the fees in the future will rise for those that remain. Also as the membership numbers decrease the more effective the president's 11 votes become. Silence may be golden but in this case it could be ominous.

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